Left to right Russell ready made, Russell bird hunter custom vintage 2015, Russel custom 2019, Russel custom 2015, Meindl about 2015, meindl about 2016 and Lacrosse Grange in the back ground (Gulf Coast cowboy boot).
Had Sue Fabricius ( former owner Russell) come down to Texas and measure up the whole gang at the ranch I lease in N Texas. That country tore up those Meindl low tops in a few months, I put 900 ish miles on the bird hunters in 2016 and it’s still my go to boot today. The lite weight Russel’s (single vamp cloth panel) customs are like wearing house slippers. They are basically the PH with green panels. The ready made Russel’s I bought in the transition period after Sue sold the place they aren’t as comfortable but OK boots. Those PH are for dry country or plenty of time to walk em dry if you go wet. I bought the high top Meindls in S Dakota because I felt I was under gunned at 0 degrees and deep snow… they were OK and I use them occasionally in wet stuff down here on the Gulf Coast when it gets “cold”.
The Russell bird hunters would have been fine with gaiters
I’ve been wearing the Grange boot from Lacrosse since about 1976 this is probably pair 4 or five. Good when wet obviously, but thorny / brushy country will tear em up. Not great for big walks either.
Somebody mentioned a Browning Kangaroo lace up…. That was my favorite pair of boots back in the 70s very versatile too bad discontinued.
I also owned a pair of Vasque boots that I wore for 15 years hunting in New Mexico that I couldn’t seem to wear out …they were far from comfortable but were the right boot for the mountains packing in and out with heavy loads.
I haven’t tried Russell since they reopened the custom shop and I haven’t called to see if they still had my last on hand, but the South 40 was and probably still is the best all round upland boot made… just spec out comfortable leather if they still do that.
Looking at that picture I am reminded I need to break out the saddle soap and overhaul em
Note: I walk a lot of miles 500-900 miles/ year through the life of those boots pictured but greatly diminished the last 3-4 years.
